Great Western Railway’s Community Fund supports projects that have a community benefit or address an area of social need across GWR network and can be completed within one year.
They are particularly interested in schemes that increase rail travel, encourage carbon reduction, connect communities, people, and places, support economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and educational programmes that support careers in rail or increase awareness and experience of public transport and rail safety.
What can you use the funding for?
The funding can be used for a wide range of projects that will directly benefit communities along the GWR network.
The list below identifies some of the types of schemes they are looking for:
- Educational – programmes that deliver safety education, promote the rail industry as a positive career choice, reduce crime, support vocational skills training and work experience for young people or other marginalised groups, or increase awareness of local public transport.
- Promoting rail travel – promoting train services or providing information that will help marginalised groups use rail services benefiting the community.
- History and heritage – enriching the community through developing historical links with the Great Western network.
- Under-represented groups – projects that promote inclusion and diversity. This could include promoting groups who are typically underrepresented in the rail industry workforce, such as women and those from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
- Feasibility surveys or studies to show ways to promote rail travel and careers in rail.
- Accessibility – aiding groups who may feel unable to use train services as part of daily life, to reduce social isolation, and to showcase rail. This includes both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects that improve the rail experience of people with disabilities and other specific needs.
- Disused buildings – bringing back into use a building, on or near the station, for the benefit of the community.
- Walking and cycling – promoting walking and cycling links to and from stations.
- Encouraging integration between public transport modes.
- Improving information to make using rail easier and promoting services through signs, posters, social media, film, and music.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applications will be accepted from community and voluntary groups, local authorities, places of study, and not-for-profit organisations that are working across the GWR network.
Applications will be judged against a number of criteria:
- They want to support projects that have a tangible community benefit,
- They can consider ideas from the community and voluntary groups, local authorities, places of study, and not-for-profit organisations.
- A good bid will have clear aims and objectives showing how the community will benefit and a robust delivery plan with timescales,
- Match funding is welcomed but not essential. Those bids that have match funding should demonstrate they have the funding confirmed and include details of any requirements that need to be met to release the funding,
- Deliverability is a key element of what we are looking for in a good bid. Projects where costs are known and any third-party consents have been secured will be considered favourably.
How to apply?
- Applications must be made online through Communityfund/application.
- Bids will be accepted up until midnight on Monday 27 June 2022.
- Bids can only be accepted for projects within GWR network area and any project should be completed by 31 March 2023.
- Once you have submitted your application it will be reviewed and considered for funding.
Is there a deadline?
- The deadline for applications is midnight on 27 June 2022.(Closed)
- Projects need to be completed by 31 March 2023.
Further information and support:
- This handbook is designed to help you with your funding application.
- If you have any further queries about the application process, please contact:
Amend to Community Fund on: CommunityFund@gwr.com - If you would like further support from RVA with submitting a funding application or any support with governance required for your group to get ready for this funding, please email advice@rva.org.uk or telephone 0118 937 2273 for free and independent support and advice.